On the glacier.
The Crystal Palace had already vanished.
However, the frigid temperatures of the Extreme North were no longer a threat to the four, now that they had regained their strength.
Yet, the four remained silent.
Xian Lin'er, Cai Mei'er, and Han Ruoruo were hugging their clothes, still bearing traces of what had just occurred, but none of them screamed or cried.
Instead, all three wore expressions of quiet introspection. A closer look would reveal that they seemed to still be lost in the moment.
Only Huo Yuhao silently pulled on his pants, then let out a deep sigh.
"Sigh~"
His sigh made the three women shudder, their heads sinking in shame.
They all now realized that everything they had just experienced had been nothing more than an illusion.
Yet that illusion had been so intoxicating that they couldn't help but indulge in it. It was unforgettable, bittersweet—and felt more real than fantasy.
They also couldn't help but feel a sense of unfairness.
The problem was—while they had experienced pleasure, Huo Yuhao had lost something far greater.
Because of their forceful behavior toward Huo Yuhao, he had failed the final trial.
The challenge of "The Path of Rebuilding, the Heart of Seeking Dao" was meant to test the firmness of one's resolve in cultivation. Huo Yuhao had been well on his way to passing. But the reckless actions of the three caused him to utterly fail.
The price of failure: Huo Yuhao lost the opportunity to inherit a divine position. What's more, everything that had happened in the illusion manifested in reality.
Almost as though the punishment had followed them out.
Facing such an outcome, it was the three women who now couldn't bring themselves to face Huo Yuhao.
They had only lost their chastity—but he had lost a godhood.
"In any case, the other rewards we received haven't been revoked. At least we didn't come out of this empty-handed. And with our strength restored, we can make our way back more easily," Huo Yuhao said calmly as he finished dressing and turned to them.
"Yuhao…" Han Ruoruo whispered, finally making up her mind. She looked at him and said, "If it's really that bad, then… scold me. No, hit me if you must."
Huo Yuhao shook his head, sighing again as he gazed wistfully into the distance. "Rather than dwelling on past failures, it's better to cherish the present and chase the future. I was chosen by the Ancestors. I'll have another chance. It's okay... really."
Han Ruoruo bit her lip and lowered her head again.
Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er didn't even dare speak. Not only had they cost Huo Yuhao his divine inheritance, but they were both married women.
Han Ruoruo had a fiancé, Wang Yan, though their relationship hadn't truly begun—and likely never would now.
Even though Xian Lin'er had regained her memories, that only made her feel even more ashamed.
"…Let's get dressed first," Cai Mei'er finally muttered.
Once they were all dressed, they began to assess what they had gained.
First was Han Ruoruo: her shattered martial soul had been restored, and the side effects of her demonized state had vanished. She was essentially back at her peak—and her soul power had broken through to Rank 94.
Her martial soul, Shimmering Golden Rope, had also undergone an upgrade, now infused with both light and fire attributes, hinting at an impending evolution.
Previously, Han Ruoruo could only wield these attributes via her ninth soul ring. Now, her martial soul naturally possessed them. It was a qualitative leap.
The source of this change was obvious—dual cultivation with Huo Yuhao.
The three women all understood this, though none said it out loud due to the awkward atmosphere. Their rewards had not included anything related to martial soul evolution.
Next was Cai Mei'er. Her injuries and energy depletion had also recovered. Her soul power broke through to Rank 95—officially making her a Super Douluo, catching up to Xian Lin'er.
But she didn't feel the least bit happy.
Her martial soul, the Holy Dragon Soul Spear, saw an enhancement in its light attribute—also showing signs of evolution.
Most notably, the golden-armored Earth Dragon soul within her spear was showing signs of transformation: two bulges had formed on its back, as if it were growing wings.
Cai Mei'er was stunned. Huo Yuhao's physique had even influenced the dragon soul's evolution.
This was no accident. It was part of a small experiment Huo Yuhao had done—he had infused the dragon soul within the spear with some soul-related power, and surprisingly, it had catalyzed its evolution.
As a result, he now had partial control over the spear's dragon soul.
Lastly, Xian Lin'er. Aside from her recovery, her soul power hadn't yet broken through, though she was now very close to Rank 96. With normal cultivation, she could likely reach it within a year.
Her greatest transformation was that her martial soul had fully evolved—from Azure Flame Dragon to Golden Flame Dragon, now wielding both wind and fire attributes.
Huo Yuhao simply stated that he, too, had broken through to Rank 94.
Beyond the tangible gains, what Huo Yuhao had truly obtained was control over the three women—and their fate energy.
Along with a sense of satisfaction.
After regaining their strength, the four chose to return to the academy. None of them proposed delving deeper into the ice seas.
Partly because the women all sensed the dangers lurking there—and partly because they needed to calm themselves back at the academy.
Though everything that had happened was technically a misunderstanding and chance encounter, they all understood that their relationships had changed.
Huo Yuhao wasn't worried. He didn't believe that women who had tasted sweetness could remain indifferent. It was just a matter of how long they could suppress their feelings.
Right now, their indifference was just a side effect of "talking big with their pants on."
The return journey posed no major dangers.
Once they left the Extreme North, the women visibly relaxed, and all opted to return to the academy as soon as possible.
After several more days, they finally made it back.
They went straight to Sea God Island and entered the Sea God Pavilion to report their experience.
They shared two key events:
First, their northern expedition to the ice seas and the encounter with numerous ferocious soul beasts.
While they hadn't uncovered much intelligence, it was clear that a powerful soul beast force existed within the ice seas—comparable to Di Tian and the beasts of the Great Star Dou Forest.
Second, their encounter with the Crystal Palace and the divine trial they underwent.
All four had gained considerable benefits.
As for the rest—nothing was said, and no one noticed anything suspicious.
Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er would never admit to what had happened. And Han Ruoruo, even less so.
Still, the information they did provide was enough to alarm Shrek Academy.
"…I really wish I could go investigate the ice seas myself," Elder Xuan sighed. "But the academy's forces are stretched thin. We've begun recalling our students from abroad."
This statement made Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er instantly tense.
"Elder Xuan, did something happen?" Cai Mei'er asked.
"Alas…" Elder Xuan sighed again.
Elder Zhuang continued, "It's the Sun Moon Empire. They've declared war on the other three nations."
"What?!"
The four had just returned—and now their faces drastically changed.
"Have hostilities broken out at the borders?" Xian Lin'er asked urgently.
"Skirmishes escalated into full-blown war," Elder Zhuang said gravely. "Not just against the Star Luo Empire—the Sun Moon Empire declared war on all three nations. The Heavenly Soul Empire and Dou Spirit Empire are also in danger."
"To prepare for the worst, we're calling back all our students," Elder Song added. "While the academy doesn't interfere with the political affairs of the four empires, we won't sit idly by and watch the continent burn."
"What about the ice seas?" Cai Mei'er asked urgently. "If the sea soul beasts really plan to invade the continent, it could become a catastrophe."
Shrek Academy indeed lacked the strength to intervene—but what they didn't lack was clever minds.
"Yuhao, what do you think?" Elder Xuan asked Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment, then shared his idea. "Perhaps… we should inform the Great Star Dou Forest. After all, they represent the soul beasts of the land. A sea soul beast invasion would be a challenge to their authority as well."
Elder Xuan smiled. "Exactly. I was thinking the same thing. Use soul beasts to fight soul beasts. Yuhao, you're maturing nicely."
"I'll head to the Great Star Dou Forest myself. But before that…"
"Yuhao, prepare to assume the role of Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion."
"I trust you to take over the academy and the Pavilion."
Elder Xuan's words made everyone serious.
Before the soul hunt began, Elder Xuan had already told Huo Yuhao: once he returned to the academy and reached the rank of Titled Douluo, he would officially succeed the Sea God Pavilion Master's position.
Huo Yuhao: How are you going to repay me for the godhood you made me lose?
The ceremony to pass on the position of Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion wasn't particularly grand. In fact, it wasn't even made known to the public.
They simply chose a sunny and pleasant day.
But the location and the attendees were anything but ordinary.
The ceremony was naturally held on Sea God Island. Only the succession of a Sea God Pavilion Master would be worthy of such a venue.
At that moment, on Sea God Island—
All Sea God Pavilion members who weren't on missions returned. The Elders also appeared one by one, every single one dressed in formal ceremonial robes unique to their status.
These robes were deep red embroidered with golden patterns, depicting symbols unique to their individual martial souls.
Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, and Cai Mei'er all donned the special gold-trimmed robes designated for deans. Their robes bore the marks of the Radiant Phoenix, Azure Flame Dragon, and Purging Evil Dragon Soul Spear.
The last time they had worn these robes was during their own investiture ceremonies as deans.
Qian Duoduo had yet to appear, still unconscious. Fortunately, his life wasn't in danger.
This left Yan Shaozhe feeling a bit melancholy.
A lifetime of bickering with his old friend—who now lay incapacitated—left him feeling a strange emptiness.
He glanced over at Xian Lin'er and felt reassured upon seeing her calm expression. It seemed she hadn't been crushed by the blow and had managed to stand up again. The Soul Tool Department still needed her support.
But just as he looked away, Xian Lin'er noticed his gaze. She glanced at him, then shifted her eyes to Cai Mei'er.
Cai Mei'er met Xian Lin'er's eyes for a moment. The next second, as if shocked by electricity, the two quickly looked away, pretending nothing had happened.
Aside from the upper echelons, most of the academy's core strength had also arrived.
All soul masters affiliated with Shrek Academy who had reached the seventh ring or above—including Title Douluos—were summoned to Sea God Island if they had time.
This included Zhang Lexuan, Gong Changlong, Han Ruoruo, and Xuan Ziwen.
Zhang Lexuan stood with four maids behind her. They had now joined the Inspection Corps and held important positions. Their strength was nearing the rank of Soul Douluo—on par with inner court students.
Numerous other core personnel who had made significant contributions to the academy were also called in.
People like Wang Yan and Du Weilun.
They, too, were dressed in formal attire.
Wang Yan stood tall in his dress uniform, gazing tenderly at Han Ruoruo, who stood among the Title Douluos.
He truly loved Han Ruoruo, and that love was reciprocated.
Thanks to her current Title Douluo status and potential to reach Super Douluo, Wang Yan's family began to value him more and offered considerable support.
With joy boosting his spirits, Wang Yan's cultivation also progressed; he was now close to becoming a Soul Sage.
However, when he met Han Ruoruo's eyes, she lowered her head shyly, avoiding his gaze.
Wang Yan was momentarily stunned, then smiled with understanding.
"Ruoruo must be feeling shy. She's been cultivating all these years with no romantic experience. Shyness is natural. I'll definitely make it up to her in the future," he thought to himself.
The largest group at the ceremony was made up of recently recalled inner court students.
They all wore the red uniforms of inner court disciples.
Among them were Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, Cao Jinxuan, Meng Hongchen, Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Hua Yao, Wu Ming, Lan Luoluo, Lan Susu, Cui Yajie, Lulu... and many more.
Sea God Island was now quite crowded.
Among these people, those who had reached or surpassed Title Douluo numbered more than ten, including several powerful Super Douluos.
Apart from these people, even Bei Bei made an appearance. Wearing a white mask, he stood quietly at the edge of Sea God Island, gazing toward the Sea God Pavilion.
Few noticed his presence, but those who did greeted him warmly—they all knew who he was.
Everyone waited patiently on the plaza before the Sea God Pavilion.
Finally, the auspicious hour arrived.
Xuan Zi personally led Huo Yuhao out of the Sea God Pavilion.
Today, Xuan Zi was also dressed in the grand elder robes, embroidered with golden patterns of the Gluttonous Divine Ox.
Huo Yuhao wore the attire unique to the Sea God Pavilion Master—a red base with blue-gold embroidery, even more regal and elegant than usual.
Embroidered on it wasn't a martial soul symbol but the Sea God's Trident—a mark exclusive to the Pavilion Master.
The robes weren't the same ones once worn by Mu En. They had been specially made during Huo Yuhao's recent soul beast hunt, crafted by soul masters with needle and thread martial souls. They fit perfectly and were made of rare materials—resistant to fire and water, yet light as gauze.
They also incorporated Huo Yuhao's earlier technique of herb-infused fabrics, giving the robe a calming effect and a subtle, refreshing fragrance.
Rather than the robes enhancing him, it was Huo Yuhao who elevated the robes—his unique temperament and otherworldly appearance made him seem like a celestial being descending to the mortal realm.
The moment he appeared, all eyes turned toward him—full of amazement, admiration, and even love.
"People always say clothes make the man, but this is the first time I've seen the man make the clothes," Xu Sanshi exclaimed.
Cao Jinxuan laughed beside him. "Well, not everyone's Huo Yuhao. That handsome face of his? He could throw on a rag and still be called fashion-forward."
"If the girls from the Huo Alliance hear you say that, they'll rip your mouth off!"
"Mercy~"
"Hahaha…"
Their jokes drew laughter from everyone nearby.
But no one found it inappropriate. In fact, they felt it entirely natural.
After all, this was the future Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion—he was supposed to shine this brightly.
As for the Pavilion Master's ceremonial robes, they were just garments in the end. Rare, yes—but not sacred. They deserved respect, not fear.
When Xuan Zi and Huo Yuhao stepped onto the platform, the crowd immediately fell silent, eager to hear what they had to say.
There was no fluff. Xuan Zi began directly with a solemn proclamation:
"Before the Sea God, and in honor of the ancestors of Shrek Academy—
Today, we have an outstanding inner court student and member of the Sea God Pavilion, Huo Yuhao.
He is upright in character, extraordinarily talented, and unmatched in strength, with countless meritorious deeds to his name. He is fully worthy of this duty.
I, the Gluttonous Douluo Xuan Zi, hereby pass on the title of Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion to Huo Yuhao.
May the ancestors bless him!"
There was no lengthy speech, but the meaning was clear.
Many people were surprised to hear Xuan Zi speak so formally. Some were even uncomfortable. A few suspected that Yuhao had helped write the speech, which Xuan Zi had simply memorized.
Huo Yuhao stepped forward with a solemn expression and declared:
"I, Huo Yuhao, inner court disciple of Shrek Academy and member of the Sea God Pavilion, hereby accept the position of Sea God Pavilion Master.
I swear to uphold justice, remain loyal to the academy, and honor the names of those who came before me.
May the Sea God bear witness!
May the ancestors bear witness!"
In the original work, the succession of the Sea God Pavilion Master was barely mentioned—just a line or two.
That's because most of the previous changes in leadership weren't formal events.
This time, however, the ceremony marked a first in Shrek Academy's history.
Or perhaps more accurately—it was a ceremony created especially for Huo Yuhao.
As he finished his oath, the plaza erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.
The upper echelons and Elders all recognized Huo Yuhao's character and strength. They had "personally" nurtured him, "personally" watched him grow. They trusted him completely.
The students and faculty of the inner court—his comrades—also acknowledged his strength. As long as he was strong enough to lead them to victory, that was enough.
Key figures in various departments bore no conflicts of interest with Huo Yuhao. In fact, thanks to his contributions—like pills and craftsmanship—they owed him considerable favors.
One could say Huo Yuhao becoming Pavilion Master was perfectly justified—he was the choice of all.
At this point, everyone inside and outside of Shrek Academy had some connection to him!
And at the moment he completed his oath, the immense fate of Shrek Academy fully merged with him, triggering another transformation in his destiny.
The massive pillar of fate-light above him suddenly expanded into an entire sea of destiny. At this point, Huo Yuhao's fate couldn't be measured in height—it had to be measured in size: how many miles, how many leagues.
"Seizing the Body Sect's destiny, claiming the Mingde Hall's fortune, absorbing the Sea God Pavilion's fate—I've finally advanced to the next level!"
Huo Yuhao was ecstatic.
If the moment weren't so solemn, he might have thrown his head back and laughed maniacally.
His [Heaven's Mandate] fate trait glowed brilliantly—and then split into a new one: [Destined One].
"[Destined One]" meant that from now on, Huo Yuhao was the rightful heir of this world.
Combined with [Heaven's Mandate], his future was boundless.
When this new trait emerged, even the Golden Ancient Tree responded—radiating golden light that enveloped all of Shrek City. In the end, the light gathered around Yuhao, performing a divine baptism.
His cultivation even subtly advanced by half a step.
That alone showed how much power the Golden Ancient Tree had expended.
What surprised Huo Yuhao was that Tang San didn't take this chance to cause trouble. Then he remembered the three divine Shura wills and understood: Tang San had already made his move—it just hadn't activated yet.
The scene of the Golden Ancient Tree blessing Yuhao was so grand that it stunned the once-cheering crowd into silence. Shrek City and Shrek Academy were like someone had hit a mute button.
Only after the golden light faded did everyone recover.
Countless people in Shrek City fell to their knees, praying toward the direction of the academy: "Sea God bless us!"
Inside the academy, people were bewildered, waiting for the deans to explain what just happened in the inner court.
Back on Sea God Island, everyone was so moved they almost dropped to their knees before Huo Yuhao. Xuan Zi was in tears, looking up and exclaiming, "The ancestors bless us! The ancestors bless us indeed!"
The Elders also felt reassured—clearly, they had made the right choice. Even the Golden Ancient Tree had acknowledged Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao: "…"
With no words, he could only smile politely, his expression humble and gentle, as he greeted the endless stream of well-wishers.
Sometimes, being popular is just... a bit too much trouble.
Huo Yuhao: Brothers, it's time to take over Shrek!
Skydream Iceworm: Brother Hao has arrived, and peace follows him! Brother Hao is here, and Shrek shall flourish!
It was the first day of Huo Yuhao's term as the new Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion.
Surprisingly, the responsibilities of the Pavilion Master were quite light.
Because, in a certain sense, the Pavilion Master didn't hold any real executive power. The role was more about leading the members of the Sea God's Pavilion.
However, the members of the Pavilion themselves held all the authority within Shrek City and Shrek Academy. Through them, the Pavilion Master could effectively command all of Shrek's power.
As the newly appointed Pavilion Master, Huo Yuhao naturally didn't rush to command others. He remained as humble as ever—after all, while he held the highest status, he was actually the youngest in seniority.
Though people often said the authority of the Pavilion Master was absolute, in practice, it wasn't that simple.
That authority relied more on overwhelming strength and the recognition of others.
Currently, Huo Yuhao was spending most of his time learning from the other Pavilion members, gradually deepening his understanding of all aspects of Shrek, and training diligently. The Pavilion members taught him without reservation, even sharing many of their trump cards.
This was favoritism, plain and simple.
No previous Pavilion Master had ever enjoyed such treatment.
Typically, the Pavilion Master had two primary responsibilities: representing Shrek Academy and being strong enough to deter external threats.
Additionally, during times of crisis, the Pavilion Master acted as the figurehead—such as by issuing a Shrek Summoning Order.
Unlike the previous two Pavilion Masters, Mu En and Xuan Zi, Huo Yuhao was much more active and frequently appeared in Shrek City and the Academy—partly because of his youth.
Mu En and Xuan Zi, nearing the ends of their lifespans, rarely ventured out unless necessary.
This was why, even while Mu En was still alive, the outside world had already assumed he was dead.
While Huo Yuhao was studying under the Pavilion members and learning about all facets of Shrek, the news of his succession as Pavilion Master spread like wildfire across the continent.
Even the Sun Moon Empire paused its military offensives for a day.
News of Huo Yuhao's breakthrough to Titled Douluo and his succession as Pavilion Master shocked nearly everyone.
Due to Huo Yuhao's consistent public presence and notable reputation, many had kept a close eye on him. Most of his known capabilities had already been roughly assessed by the major powers.
That's why they all knew—Huo Yuhao wasn't even twenty years old yet!
A Titled Douluo before the age of twenty?
Was this some kind of joke?
Many so-called geniuses hadn't even reached Rank 50 by that age.
Even Mu En hadn't progressed this fast!
And Huo Yuhao's element was Ultimate Ice—one of the most challenging elements to cultivate. Yet, this was what people were calling "difficult to cultivate"?
Was this a joke?
Even when he was only a Soul Sage, Huo Yuhao could already challenge Titled Douluo. Now that he had broken through, he might be able to contend with Hyper Douluo.
The factions that understood Huo Yuhao's combat ability no longer dared to underestimate him—in fact, they regarded him with great seriousness.
Because Huo Yuhao had truly earned his position—and this was still far from his limit.
Some factions had once entertained ambitious thoughts regarding him, but none had ever found the right opportunity, nor did they have the ability to bear the risk of exposure.
So, they could only watch helplessly as Huo Yuhao rapidly rose to power.
From his debut to now, less than ten years had passed—and yet he had already traversed a path that took most soul masters their entire lives.
And the most striking thing? Huo Yuhao had grown up under the very noses of all the great powers—as if, in just the blink of an eye, the child had become an adult.
There was no doubt: from now on, all factions would have to form new strategies—toward both Huo Yuhao and Shrek Academy.
In fact, the Sun Moon Empire had paused its war for a day just to discuss this matter.
What no one knew was that many factions within the three great empires were actually pleased about Huo Yuhao's succession—because they were all believers in Huo Yuhao!
The higher Huo Yuhao's status and the stronger his power, the brighter their own futures—and the closer they would be to reaching the Blissful Realm.
Body Sect
On a mountaintop, Poison Undying stood beside Long Aotian, looking out toward Shrek Academy, suddenly breaking into laughter—laughing louder and louder.
And why wouldn't he laugh?
Even though Huo Yuhao was the hidden force behind the Body Sect, he was still, in essence, a member of the Body Sect. Now he had become the Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion.
A member of the Body Sect becoming the Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion?
How could that not be hilarious?
Long Aotian looked at his sect leader in confusion.
Then Poison Undying suddenly stopped laughing and turned serious. "Aotian, you should also work hard. In a little while, I plan to pass the position of sect leader to you."
"Huh? Me?" Long Aotian pointed at himself, looking bewildered.
What? Sect Leader, did you eat too many poisonous mushrooms?
He really wanted to question his leader—sure, he'd made progress, but he was still only a Soul Douluo. How could he possibly succeed the sect?
"Don't worry," Poison Undying said. "That person said he would soon send a batch of good things to help the Body Sect grow. You'll get your share."
"Also, the elders and I plan to go into closed-door cultivation for a while. The elders need to break through their current levels, and I... I plan to try touching that next realm." Poison Undying looked toward the sky with burning eyes. "Maybe... I'll even seek that person's guidance."
With Huo Yuhao's support, Poison Undying had already broken through to Limit Douluo. Now, he had started to glimpse something even higher.
The other elders were also growing stronger, and the feeling of rising power was addictive.
Even though the Body Sect was now under Huo Yuhao, the higher-ups had not lost their drive. If anything, they felt they were still progressing too slowly.
Thus, the decision: a full-scale retreat for focused cultivation.
Their goals could be long-term—but their mindsets needed to stay ambitious.
Long Aotian's jaw nearly dropped. Then it dawned on him: with all the elders and the sect leader going into seclusion, leaving the sect essentially in standby mode, he, the only remaining Soul Douluo, was naturally next in line to take over.
Seriously?
As Long Aotian tried to process this chaos, Poison Undying suddenly grew stern again. "Aotian, you and the disciples below cannot slack off. Now that he has taken that position, he will surely take action soon. Turbulent times are coming."
"With that man's personality, the weak have no right to walk beside him. Only by growing stronger can you follow in his footsteps—to realms never before seen, to behold sights from the highest peaks."
Long Aotian grew serious and nodded earnestly. "Disciple understands."
Satisfied, Poison Undying added, "Max out the resources and support for Princess Wei Na. Even though she's lost her memory, we don't know what hidden measures he might have left behind. She is, after all, his woman."
"Understood, Sect Leader!"
By now, Long Aotian no longer had much romantic attachment to Wei Na. Back then, he was just a hot-blooded youth. He'd never really fallen deeply for her.
Similar conversations were happening in the Star Luo Empire's imperial study. Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu sat across from each other, while Man Yi stood silently to the side.
"Brother Emperor, Huo Yuhao has become the Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion," Xu Jiujiu said calmly.
Xu Jiawei smiled and shook his head. "Now that he holds that position, he doesn't need the support of our Star Luo Empire."
Xu Jiujiu opened her mouth to speak, hesitated, then sighed.
As the Emperor, Xu Jiawei wasn't so easily persuaded.
In fact, he seemed to grow more wary and guarded toward Shrek Academy.
What's more, Xu Jiujiu had noticed that her own influence within the empire had been quietly curtailed by Xu Jiawei. Clearly, he no longer fully trusted her.
Xu Jiujiu had long anticipated this. Many of the changes, she had even silently allowed.
At the very least, when the day came that Huo Yuhao might need to use her influence to act against the Star Luo Empire—she wouldn't be in a position to actually harm it.
The news of Huo Yuhao succeeding as the Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion didn't actually stir much of a commotion on the continent.
Soon, the political situation on the continent turned tense once again.
The Sun Moon Empire's sudden declaration of war against the other three nations shocked many and immediately ignited the conflict across the continent.
Many people were curious about Xu Tiancheng's mental state—what drove him to abruptly declare war and, more so, to take on all three nations at once?
Had he really become invincible?
But Xu Tiancheng's surprise declaration of war indeed caught many off guard. Even the Star Luo Empire nearly failed to withstand the Sun Moon Empire's assault.
The fighting along the Sun Moon and Star Luo border grew more intense. However, the pressure on the Star Luo Empire eased slightly, since they were no longer fighting the Sun Moon Empire alone.
The Heavenly Soul Empire's coastal borders saw a sudden influx of Sun Moon spies, and there were even suspected sightings of the Sun Moon Empire's Ten Direction Army, sending the Heavenly Soul Empire into a state of high alert.
Although the Dou Ling Empire hadn't yet detected any presence from the Sun Moon Empire, it remained vigilant and increased its control over border regions.
Additionally, the Dou Ling Empire temporarily exchanged some of its resources with the Star Luo Empire, now at war.
On one hand, this was to gain certain benefits from the Star Luo Empire; on the other, it was to ensure that the Star Luo military could bog down the Sun Moon troops in the Ming Dou Mountain Range.
But everyone knew that the war hadn't escalated further and the Star Luo Empire was still holding on only because the Sun Moon Empire's top-tier forces and most elite military units hadn't fully entered the battlefield yet.
The five Beast King Legions of the Sun Moon Empire had yet to make an appearance on the front lines!
The whereabouts of the five Beast King Legions were now the top intelligence priority for the three other nations.
The bad news was that, although no confirmed reports had surfaced, what was certain was that all five legions had left their original stations—and left the capital, Mingdu.
The mysterious disappearance of the five Beast King Legions had become a Damocles' sword hanging over the heads of the other three empires.
You must understand—even in the past, the five Beast King Legions never mobilized all at once. At least two would always stay behind to guard Mingdu and the Sun Moon Empire.
But now, it was a full-scale mobilization!
No one knew what kind of catastrophic flood these legions would unleash when they finally resurfaced on the Douluo Continent.
Shrek Academy had summoned its inner court disciples, with the five Beast King Legions being one of their primary threats to guard against.
While the three empires were on high alert and ready for battle, Shrek City was bustling. Many people from the three nations flocked to Shrek City, hoping to settle there.
They were, naturally, fleeing from war, seeking protection in Shrek City in hopes of surviving the chaos.
However, Shrek Academy did not easily accept these people—especially the nobles, high-level soul masters, and soul engineers.
Absorbing these people might bolster Shrek's foundation and strength, but it could also cause friction with the three nations—a risk not worth taking at this critical time.
Moreover, at best, these individuals would only serve as mid-tier forces. They didn't even have a single Title Douluo among them, which made their value to Shrek Academy quite limited.
And furthermore, the fact that they could so easily abandon their own nations made their loyalty questionable—Shrek Academy would never trust them.
Therefore, Shrek Academy's decision regarding this wave of refugees was: spending money in the city was fine, but settling down permanently was absolutely not allowed.
Shrek City issued a limited-residency ordinance for all outsiders—those who failed to leave within the designated period would be forcibly removed by the city guards.
This policy was quickly and strictly enforced.
As a result, the population of Shrek City remained within a safe range, law and order in the city was well maintained, and the risk of spies from the Sun Moon Empire was also effectively controlled.
As for those clever folks who tried to camp outside the city and exploit loopholes—well, the Shrek City defense force was more than happy to teach them the meaning of rules, with three swift strikes per second.
All of these arrangements were, in fact, orchestrated by Huo Yuhao. This was considered his first political accomplishment since taking office.
The Elders were all very pleased with Huo Yuhao's performance.
Xuan Zi left for the Great Star Dou Forest to meet with Di Tian, possibly to explore the Extreme North Sea together and investigate the situation there.
The Elders also gradually eased up on teaching Huo Yuhao, since he was learning incredibly quickly. At this point, he was already excellent enough. What he needed now was time and experience.
Thus, Huo Yuhao began his own initiatives.
He began winning over Shrek Academy's middle and lower tiers to gain more support and approval—and to harvest their fate energy.
In addition, he launched a talent survey, going through the academy's personnel list while using his aura-sensing techniques to mark individuals he deemed promising.
All for future harvest.
Busy as he was, more than half a month quickly passed.
While the situation across the continent continued to escalate, under Huo Yuhao's leadership, Shrek Academy seemed to have become a peaceful haven. More people began to acknowledge Huo Yuhao's capabilities.
And then came another calm, quiet night.
A figure stealthily snuck into the Sea God's Pavilion and stopped before the door to Huo Yuhao's room.
Since becoming Pavilion Master, Huo Yuhao had moved out of his villa into the private quarters of the Pavilion Master within the Sea God's Pavilion.
It wasn't the small room that Elder Mu had used before, but rather a spacious cultivation chamber. Though it remained sparsely decorated, it was infused with a far denser concentration of natural energy.
Xian Lin'er stood before the door, nervously glancing around. Seeing no one else nearby, her gaze finally settled on the door in front of her. Her eyes gradually shifted from hesitation to resolve.
"I do owe Duoduo an apology, but there was never truly anything between us. I have the right to pursue love… Besides, I don't have a choice anymore."
At last, Xian Lin'er tried to push open the door to Huo Yuhao's room—and to her surprise, it opened.
By the way, doors inside the Sea God's Pavilion weren't locked by conventional means. Soul masters used their own energy to place restrictions and seal the rooms.
Normally, no one would enter someone else's room without permission.
And even without any setup, the rooms were well-isolated—outsiders couldn't perceive what was happening inside.
So when Xian Lin'er opened the door, she saw—Cai Mei'er cultivating together with Huo Yuhao.
Cai Mei'er looked utterly immersed, eyes half-closed, glancing at Xian Lin'er with what looked like smug provocation.
In that instant, Xian Lin'er felt her blood rush to her head. The image of Cai Mei'er stealing Yan Shaozhe from her all those years ago flashed vividly through her mind.
"Cai Mei'er!!!"
She couldn't believe how shameless Cai Mei'er was…
She was different from herself—Cai Mei'er and Yan Shaozhe were husband and wife! How could she dare? How dare she?
But when Xian Lin'er met Huo Yuhao's apologetic eyes, her heart quivered.
This time, Xian Lin'er did not choose to run away. Instead, she charged forward and finally… joined them!
During the time when Huo Yuhao served as the Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion, beyond the diligent behavior observed by the elders, he was also secretly busy with his own endeavors.
Namely, leveraging his status and authority to absorb Shrek Academy's resources into the possession of "Hao."
This included Shrek Academy's fate energy, cauldrons (furnaces for dual cultivation), herbs, and other miscellaneous resources.
With the identity of the Sea God's Pavilion Master, Huo Yuhao not only had faster and easier access to the academy's unclaimed fate energy, but he could also take freely from its accumulated fate.
Shrek Academy had produced deities and enjoyed millennia of glory, with the Golden Ancient Tree's fate suppression boosting it further. The fate energy it had accumulated over ten thousand years was simply enormous.
So much so that Huo Yuhao even felt, "I can't finish it all—there's just too much!"
Thus, his fortune field—already vast like the lands of a feudal landlord after undergoing two metamorphoses—continued to expand at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Moreover, he sensed that something new was being nurtured within this field of fate.
The fortune field wasn't the end goal!
Then there were the cauldron resources.
To Huo Yuhao, cauldrons were no longer that important—unless the target had a special destiny or physique.
So he left it to fate.
But Brother Hao's charm simply couldn't be hidden.
As Brother Hao bloomed, bees and butterflies naturally gathered.
Han Ruoruo was the first to approach him, not asking for any status—she just wanted to maintain a relationship with Huo Yuhao.
From Wang Yan's side, Han Ruoruo was already considering breaking off the engagement. But since they had been matched through the Sea God Fate, the bond wasn't so easy to sever—it carried the authority of the "Sea God."
So it could only be delayed.
Next came Cai Meier. In the end, she broke her bottom line—likely influenced by the memories from that illusionary realm. She had become more emotional and bold when it came to love.
As for how to face Yan Shaozhe, Cai Meier chose to temporarily forget—essentially trying to avoid the problem. Perhaps she hoped to keep it hidden from him forever.
Xian Lin'er was the last to approach Huo Yuhao. Though she shared more memories with him, she was usually more rational. It's fair to say that back then, she lost to Cai Meier not by accident.
However, since Qian Duoduo had already fallen into a coma, with no certainty of ever waking again, Xian Lin'er had fewer concerns than Cai Meier.
After their entanglements with Huo Yuhao were exposed, the three women felt awkward—but somehow, they ended up forming a new sisterhood.
They chose to continue the story they had imagined, now in reality.
Most likely, Xuan Zi and the others never imagined that sending Cai Meier to monitor Huo Yuhao and Xian Lin'er would result in Cai Meier getting involved herself.
Besides them, other girls from the Hao Alliance—both inner and outer courtyard—also began boldly pursuing Huo Yuhao.
Girls like the Lan sisters, Cui Yajie, Lulu, and others.
Especially after hearing that Huo Yuhao had lost much of his memory, even more girls became proactive—some even went so far as to share "improvised romantic memories" with him, which was absurdly bold.
Of course, Huo Yuhao didn't abandon this batch of cauldrons from the Hao Alliance. He maintained them carefully and would occasionally enjoy a private moment with them—he considered it a source of amusement.
Even his former cauldrons didn't completely cut ties with him. All thanks to Jiang Nannan.
Because Jiang Nannan's fifth trial required developing a Martial Soul Fusion Technique. Lacking leads, she ultimately turned to Huo Yuhao, an experienced user of such techniques, for help.
Naturally, this also involved the other half of the technique—Xian Lin'er.
Huo Yuhao was happy to help, but couldn't contribute much—after all, he had "lost his memory," so he was only "vaguely familiar" with the origins of the fusion technique between him and Xian Lin'er.
Xian Lin'er had already "recalled" how their fusion technique came about, but she didn't know how to explain it.
Cai Meier, who had been keeping a close eye on them, also found out. In the past, she would've just laughed at the technique between Huo Yuhao and Xian Lin'er. But now, having joined the mix herself, she felt jealous.
She was happy to see Xian Lin'er suffer—but hated the idea of losing to her.
Shrek Academy was never short of idea people.
So Cai Meier came up with a plan.
She directly brought in Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Zhang Lexuan, and others who had received rewards alongside Huo Yuhao in the past, and asked them to attempt Martial Soul Fusion Techniques with him.
Due to memory loss, Zhang Lexuan and the others were confused, but still cooperated at Cai Meier's insistence.
Then something shocking happened.
Through the trials, Huo Yuhao successfully performed unique Martial Soul Fusion Techniques with several of them!
The way the girls looked at Huo Yuhao changed completely.
Because Martial Soul Fusion Techniques held special meaning for soul masters—if a man and woman could perform one together, they were either blood relatives or destined lovers.
But the problem was...
Huo Yuhao had succeeded with so many people. Wasn't his "destined one" a bit too many?
It led some to wonder—was Huo Yuhao some kind of universal fusion material?
Fortunately, not everyone who tried could successfully perform a fusion technique with him.
Only Zhang Lexuan and the others were "special."
Eventually, they all left—but with complicated feelings, pondering whether they should go further with Huo Yuhao.
It was undeniable that they held a certain special affection for him—an instinctive fondness.
Otherwise, they wouldn't even be considering it.
It was foreseeable that Huo Yuhao's relationships with these girls would once again become ambiguous.
Huo Yuhao, for his part, put on an act of being totally unaware—shocked and even self-doubting.
Jiang Nannan, who hadn't lost her memory, likely figured out why Huo Yuhao could perform fusion techniques with so many girls—but she was still confused.
"Dean Cai, is there any point to what you're doing?" Jiang Nannan asked, puzzled. She didn't understand why Cai Meier wanted to connect Huo Yuhao with all these girls.
The Academy had previously issued a gag order on all who knew the truth, forbidding interference in Huo Yuhao's relationships and asking that they be left to develop naturally.
Hearing Jiang Nannan's question, Cai Meier finally pulled her gaze from Xian Lin'er's stiff face.
Xian Lin'er was no longer the only special one.
To Jiang Nannan's confusion, Cai Meier offered a reply that wasn't even made up—it was the truth.
"After all these experiments, haven't you figured out the root of the problem?" Cai Meier asked back.
Jiang Nannan was stunned.
Cai Meier continued with the answer: "The key to creating these Martial Soul Fusion Techniques isn't Huo Yuhao. It's the power of the God of Love! And you—you're the heir to the God of Love and possess affinity with that divine seat. So the true core of this trial isn't about how to develop a fusion technique, but about choosing who you'll develop it with!"
Jiang Nannan's mind exploded like a bomb going off—like she was suddenly possessed by Conan—she got it!
Even Huo Yuhao, overhearing their conversation, was inwardly stunned. He hadn't expected Cai Meier to actually pinpoint the key to the problem!
In the end, Jiang Nannan also left, visibly unsettled.
Cai Meier: Seeing Xian Lin'er upset just makes me even happier!